Bardessono Hotel

This is a stunning new hotel in Yountville on a piece of property originally owned by the Bardessono family. It's remarkable what they've done with recycled materials and materials not normally used in this way. They salvaged an old stone used in early wineries... they made tiles out of this to cover the walls.

Now, let's talk about the food!

The Maine Lobster Salad, with spring vegetables and green almonds, had tiny asparagus tips, radicchio, artichoke hearts, topped with paper thin slices of artichoke hearts that have been fried crisp, with green almonds.

And the Hill Family Farm Green Garlic Sformato (Mendocino morel mushrooms, brown butter, and leeks) - Absolutely stunning!

Bardessono Hotel, Yountville, CA
Chef Sean O’Toole

Green garlic sformato, morel mushrooms, brown butter

Ingredients:
Green garlic sformato
Morels
Green garlic sliced
Brown butter

Green garlic sformato
4oz         butter
6oz         flour
32oz        whole milk
1#        green garlic tops
7        whole eggs
4oz         grated parmesan
4oz         extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
Nutmeg

M.O.P.:        Pick, wash and blanch green garlic tops in salted boiling water. Cool and squeeze out excess moisture. Make a roux with butter and flour. Temper roux into milk and cook, making a béchamel. Cool béchamel and combine all ingredients in a blender, season with salt, white pepper, and nutmeg. Place mixture in buttered molds and cook in water bath in 325’F oven, check after 45 minutes.

Braised morels
1#        morels
1oz        shallot fine brunoise
1clove        garlic smashed
1oz        vermouth
4oz        butter
Tt        salt & pepper
        extra virgin olive oil

m.o.p.        Trim and wash mushrooms until water is translucent. Heat extra virgin olive oil in a rondeau with garlic. Add mushrooms, shallots season with salt and vermouth. Cover with water, add butter, season, and cover. Simmer 20 minutes, cool and store in the liquid.

To Finish:    Warm sformato in the oven and place on a plate. Heat butter in a sauté pan, add green garlic and morels. Heat through. Place morels and garlic around sformato, pour butter form pan over the top.

ON AIR: 4/10/09